Combined splint and coolant container

ABSTRACT

The combined splint and container comprises an inflatable splint having inner and outer walls defining an inflatable chamber and a flexible container wall disposed in face to face spaced relation to the inner wall and connected thereto at its margins and extending from one end thereof to and beyond the other end, so as to form with the inner wall a container for coolant. The splint and container are placed in embracing relation to a member to be treated with the container, filled with coolant, usually crushed ice, in in contact with the member. While held in embracing relation, the splint is inflated by oral pressure so as to stiffen the splint and force the container wall into embracing relation, under preselected pressure contact, to the member about the entire periphery of the embraced portion of the member. The splint and container may be of permanent sleeve shape or a sleeve having separable lateral margins which are detachably held together when the splint is installed and are separable so that the sleeve can be opened along one side for convenience in installing it on the member.

United States Patent Mn m we on TE mm 99 I1 I, 37 05 ll 2 73 33 n m .mn.m Ner m m .t t 0 G& r w n P. V m N 7 H n o t m M Fn w L Mw o L "H .mnnu m i We mm m HA c n 8 J 61m 7c S ab. l nfm 6 v e WNFM 0 de e N. may 0 pell P umu AFPA nny 2247 g an inposed in face flatable chamber and ectedthereto g from one end thereof to and so as to form with the inner walla con- [54] COMBINED SPLINT AND COOLANT CONTAINER 7 Claims, 6 DrawingFigs.

beyond the other end,

. e mum .m .mmm mo u a mm m mme .mwk m5 dmm m at ma mm a N mu a a t a dm bo c ch r OFlw .m m w ial rll mbfi I M 2 SWH 5el D 6 A 128/87.l28/402. ISO/2.4, ISO/2.5,

member. While held in embracing relation, the splint is in [50] ISO/2.1-

flated by oral pressure so as to stiffen the splint and force thecontainer wall into embracing relation under preselected pressurecontact, to the member about the entire periphery of 2.6; 128/(Inflatable Splint Digest), 87,254, 258

402, 403 82. l (inquired) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS150 2.2x the splint is installed and are separable so that the sleevecan l50/2.4X be opened along one side for convenience in installing iton ISO/2.5K the member.

m0 KM w PWA 04 566 999 WWW 43 2 4 J3 299 644 223 PATENIED FEB 9 I971SHEU 1 BF 2 mvmmn.

PATENIEU FEB 9 l97l SHEU 2 [IF 2 INVE'NTOR A TTOANEK COMBINED SPLINT ANDCOOLANT CONTAINER This invention relates to a combined inflatable splintand l coolant container and more specifically to a combined inflata blesplint and ice container, for use in supporting injured members,particularly limbs or members with broken bones, in an immobile positionand for concurrently applying coolant thereto for reducing the pain andfor reducing bleeding in those cases wherein the damage to the limb ormember includes bleeding wounds.

The invention is an improvement in the usual inflatable pressure-typebandages or splints, both in the manner of its construction and in themanner of application of the coolant.

Various specific objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description in which reference is made tothe drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a front elevation of the splint and coolant container in open,flat condition, and only slightly inflated to separate the various wallsfrom each other;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the combined splint and coolantcontainer taken on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the combined splint and containerinstalled in inflated condition with crushed ice coolant in thecontainer, with its lateral margins detachably connected together so asto form a sleeve in embracing relation to a leg of a user;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the combined splint and containertaken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; i

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the combined pressure splint and coolantcontainer comprises an inflatable splint, indicated generally at l,composed of an outer wall 2 and inner wall 3. The walls 2 and 3 areimpervious, flexible, substantially inelastic sheets of syntheticorganic plastic, such as vinyl chloride or other types of syntheticorganic settable plastics. The walls 2 and 3 are disposed in face toface relation and secured together in sealed relation about theirperipheral margins by heat bonding or otherwise so as to provide aninflatable air chamber therebetween. An inflating stop valve 4 of anyconventional type, and provided with an air tube 5, is connected to theouter wall 2 so as to permit inflation of the splint by air pressuredelivered orally.

The two opposite lateral margins of the walls are provided withreleasable fastening means, respectively, such as indicated at 6 and 7,for holding the splint in sleeve form during use. The fastening meansmay be in the form of the conventional slide fasteners, the usual hooksand laces, or other means, as the specific type of releasable fastenerforms no part of the present invention.

Disposed in face to face relation to the inner wall 3 of the splint is acontainer wall 8 which at the lateral margins and one end margin, isbonded to the corresponding margins of the splint in sealed relation.The wall 8 is substantially coextensive laterally with the splint andextends from the one end at which it is bonded to the splint and beyondthe opposite end of the splint. The wall 8 is of flexible substantiallyinelastic sheet material, of the general type used for the walls 2 and3, and preferably is impervious so that liquid from the melting ice canbe contained.

The wall 8, as mentioned, extends beyond the end of the splint oppositefrom the end to which it is attached, and at this opposite end isunconnected to the splint except for a very limited area at the lateralmargins of the splint. This provides a means for shielding the limb ormember, such as the leg L of the user as indicated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5,on which the splint is being applied so that the ice, or watertherefrom, can be kept out of the space between the embraced leg L andthe container wall.

In order to maintain proper distribution of the coolant, especiallycrushed ice, and retain it is place, the walls 2, 3, and 8 are bondedtogether at spaced locations transversely of the length of the splint.These bonded areas extend continuously endwise of the splint from apoint beginning in spaced relation to the closed end of the containerpartway toward the other end of the splint. The walls 2, 3, and 8 areunbonded at these laterally spaced locations for 2 or 3 inches from theclosed end of the container and for 2 or 3 inches from the end of thesplint at the open end of the container.

The splint may be applied by securing it in sleeve form in embracingrelation to the member to which it is applied, with the wall 8 incontact with the member. The crushed ice usually is introduced into thecontainer before application of the splint to the member.

After the splint is placed in embracing relation to the member, it isinflated orally until the inner wall 8 of the com tainer is brought intoembracing relation to the member under the desired pressure throughoutthe length of the splint. The division of the coolant container intoseparate sleeves or pockets, even though the pockets communicate witheach other adjacent their ends of the container, hold the solid coolant,such as crushed ice, in place, and also cause the ice itself to assistin stiffening the splint. Further, they permit more localizedapplication of coolant when desired. With the container filled, however,the pockets adjust themselves during inflation of the splint so that thecoolant is applied about the entire periphery of the embraced portion ofthe member. If desired, the lateral margins of the splint can bepermanently connected together, so that the splint and the containerremain permanehtly in the form of sleeves.

In general, the material is flexible but inelastic so that the stiffnessobtained in the inflated splint can be proportional to the pressure ofinflation. The valve may be of the push-pull type or any other type, andthe specific nature thereof forms no part of the present invention.

The combination of the crushed ice and the inflation pressure assist inreducing bleeding. The application of the wall 8 of the container to themember can be maintained during the reduction of the volume of ice dueto melting by occasionally additionally inflating the splint so that thewall 8 is maintained at all times in proper contact with the memberembraced by the splint.

While the combined splint and container has been disclosed as applied tothe leg of a user, obviously it may be modified for use on other memberswithout changing the essential cooperative relations of its parts.

Also, other treating material than crushed ice may be used so thatheating as well as cooling effects can be obtained.

lclaim:

I. A combined pressure splint and coolant container comprising:

an elongated inflatable splint having inner and outer walls,respectively, of impervious, flexible, substantially in elastic materialsealed together at their margins so as to define therebetween an airreceiving and holding chamber, and which are sealed together atelongated narrow areas which extend lengthwise of the walls and arespaced apart from each other transversely of the walls, and which areasterminate endwise in spaced relation to the ends of said walls, todivide the air receiving chamber into a plurality of compartments incommunication with each other at their ends, and inlet means forpermitting introduction of air into the chamber for inflating the splintand for preventing the escape of air through said means;

a container wall of flexible sheet material in face to face spacedrelation-to said inner wall and connected thereto along part only of itsperiphery so as to define between the inner wall and container wall acontainer for holding treating material, which container has an openingto permit filling and emptying; and

said splint and container wall being constructed and arranged so thatthe splint and container wall can be placed in embracing relation withan injured member of a user with the container wall juxtaposed againstthe embraced member.

2. The structure according to claim I wherein said container wall haselongated areas extending endwise of the splint, bonded to the innerwall of the splint partway only of the length of the splint at aplurality of locations spaced apart from each other transversely of thelength of the splint.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein each of said bonded areasterminates in spaced relation to both ends of the splint.

4. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said container wall isimpervious and imperforate and is bonded in sealed relation to the innerwall of the splint along the entire lateral margins and one end marginof the container wall.

5. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the container wall extendsendwise of the splint outwardly beyond the end of the splint oppositefrom said one end margin of the container wall sufl'iciently so that theportion so extending can be folded over the splint at said one end andoverlie the outer peripheral margin of the splint at said one end.

6. The structure according to claim I wherein the container wall isattached at its lateral margins and at said one end margin, to thesplint over a total area of such a limited extend transversely andlengthwise of the splint that the space between the container wall andsplint is open at said opposite end for substantially the entire extentof the splint transversely of the length of the splint.

7. The structure according to claim I wherein the splint has two sealedlateral margins extending lengthwise of the splint and separable fromeach other:

releasable connecting means are connected to the splint and are manuallyoperable to hold said margins in fixed position relative to each otherand to release said margins, selectively; and

the container wall has lateral margins separated from each other andbonded in fixed position to said lateral margins of the splint.respectively.

1. A combined pressure splint and coolant container comprising: anelongated inflatable splint having inner and outer walls, respectively,of impervious, flexible, substantially inelastic material sealedtogether at their margins so as to define therebetween an air receivingand holding chamber, and which are sealed together at elongated narrowareas which extend lengthwise of the walls and are spaced apart fromeach other transversely of the walls, and which areas terminate endwisein spaced relation to the ends of said walls, to divide the airreceiving chamber into a plurality of compartments in communication witheach other at their ends, and inlet means for permitting introduction ofair into the chamber for inflating the splint and for preventing theescape of air through said means; a container wall of flexible sheetmaterial in face to face spaced relation to said inner wall andconnected thereto along part only of its periphery so as to definebetween the inner wall and container wall a container for holdingtreating material, which container has an opening to permit filling andemptying; and said splint and container wall being constructed andarranged so that the splint and container wall can be placed inembracing relation with an injured member of a user with the containerwall juxtaposed against the embraced member.
 2. The structure accordingto claim 1 wherein said container wall has elongated areas extendingendwise of the splint, bonded to the inner wall of the splint partwayonly of the length of the splint at a plurality of locations spacedapart from each other transversely of the length of the splint.
 3. Thestructure according to claim 2 wherein each of said bonded areasterminates in spaced relation to both ends of the splint.
 4. Thestructure according to claim 1 wherein said container wall is imperviousand imperforate and is bonded in sealed relation to the inner wall ofthe splint along the entire lateral margins and one end margin of thecontainer wall.
 5. The structure according to claim 1 wherein thecontainer wall extends endwise of the splint outwardly beyond the end ofthe splint opposite from said one end margin of the container wallsufficiently so that the portion so extending can be folded over thesplint at said one end and overlie the outer peripheral margin of thesplint at said one end.
 6. The structure according to claim 1 whereinthe container wall is attached at its lateral margins and at said oneend margin, to the splint over a total area of such a limited extendtransversely and lengthwise of the splint that the space between thecontainer wall and splint is open at said opposite end for substantiallythe entire extent of the splint transversely of the length of thesplint.
 7. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the splint has twosealed lateral margins extending lengthwise of the splint and separablefrom each other: releasable connecting means are connected to the splintand are manually operable to hold said margins in fixed positionrelative to each other and to release said margins, selectively; and thecontainer wall has lateral margins separated from each other and bondedin fixed position to said lateral margins of the splint, respectively.